TDP and YSRCP put forth divergent views on YSRCP MP defections

Divergent views are being expressed by leaders of Telugu Desam Party and YSRCP over the defections of YSRCP MPs SPY Reddy of Nandayal joining TDP and Kurnool MP Butta Renuka expressing inclination of joining Telugu Desam.

Senior TDP leader and former Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Yanamala Ramakrishnudu argue that the MPs will not come under the purview of anti-defection laws since YSRCP was not a recognized party. He further said that there was no role of Election Commission and only the Lok Sabha Speaker would have to take a decision in the event of a complaint. The former Speakers said in a statement on Sunday said that seeing the pulse of the people, who were supporting TDP, leaders were joining TDP.

YSRCP on Monday lashing out the Telugu Desam Party asked it to stop poaching on its elected representatives and instead concentrate on fulfilling the promises it made to the people during elections. YSRCP senior leader MV Mysoora Reddy ridiculed the argument of Ramakrishnudu. He said that Anti-defection Law would apply irrespective of whether a party was recognised or not, defection of any member elected on one common symbol to another party was liable to make him/her to lose membership.

YSRCP gets recognition

Meanwhile the Election Commission has recognised YSRCP as a recognised party following its performance in the recently concluded general elections. In a letter to the party president Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday, under Secretary to the Election Commission Pramod Kumar Sharma said that the symbol of 'ceiling fan' has been reserved and slotted to exclusively to the party and is recognised as a State party following it fulfilled the conditions required.